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Republican leaving FCC next month

November 18, 2005|By Items compiled from Tribune news services.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Kathleen Abernathy said Thursday she will leave the Federal Communications Commission early next month, which could leave the five-member commission with two open seats and give Democrats a temporary 2-1 majority.

Abernathy has served for four years. Her term expired last year but under federal rules she could stay on until next month. She plans to leave the job Dec. 9.

The FCC already has one vacancy, leaving a 2-2 split between Republicans and Democrats. Abernathy's departure could leave the FCC in an unusual position of having a Republican chairman and two Democratic commissioners if the Senate doesn't act on the nomination of Republican Deborah Tate.